Syngenta’s Seedcare program for smallholder farmers in Senegal has led to impressive yield increases for pearl millet (1.2 t/ha, +40 per cent), sorghum (1.1 t/ha, +86 per cent), maize (2.7 t/ha, +101 per cent), irrigated rice (9.4 t/ha, +11 per cent) and rain-fed rice (2.0 t/ha, +33 per cent). The achievements from year one of the Apron Star project in Senegal are one of the focus of Syngenta’s participation in the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) Congress 2017 which took place this week.

At the AFSTA Congress, Syngenta showcased its results and learnings from its partnership with the Scaling Seeds and Technologies Partnership, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is being implemented by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to help strengthen food security and farmer livelihoods in Senegal. The company also hosted a Seedcare workshop with one of the sessions dedicated to how to grow more food using fewer resources.

In early 2016, Syngenta launched the Apron Star seed treatment project in Senegal, as part of its Good Growth Plan commitment to sustainable agriculture. The two-year project is supported by SSTP and aims to improve access to high-quality seed and seed treatment technology, training on most effective and safe uses and raising awareness of benefits for yield increase.

“We believe a thriving agriculture sector is vital to empower smallholders and foster vibrant rural communities in Senegal, and beyond,” said Thomas Peyrachon, head of business development for global seedcare at Syngenta. “Syngenta is committed to helping transform the yields of smallholder farmers at scale in a way that creates value for all in a sustainable way. The Apron Star project is just one example of our commitment to improving farmers’ productivity and income across the region”.

To date, Syngenta and its local distribution partner RMG Concept Limited have jointly conducted pilot programmes for key crops, including maize, millet, rice, peanut and sorghum, and reached more than 15,000 farmers, a third of which are women, with training on seed treatment and the safe use of crop protection products. The results have been extremely encouraging, leading to significant yield increases for farmers. Additionally, the project has sponsored the development of a Center of Excellence (CoE) in Matam to ensure better access to treated seeds through local seed companies and new retailer network.

Having piloted the model in Senegal with promising results, Syngenta and its partners are focusing on increasing the distribution of Apron Star and making treated seeds available to more farmers in Senegal and other countries.